U.S. patent number 4,377,254 [Application Number 06/277,792] was granted by the patent office on 1983-03-22 for centrifuge holder apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Beckman Instruments, Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric C. Huffman, James F. Woodall.
United States Patent |
4,377,254 |
Huffman , et al. |
March 22, 1983 |
Centrifuge holder apparatus
Abstract
A centrifuge holder to inhibit movement of a centrifuge machine
caused by a rotor within the centrifuge coming off the drive
spindle. The holder apparatus is designed in such a manner that the
centrifuge machine can be placed on or removed from the holder
without the need of any separate tool. Tab members of the holding
apparatus are received within spaced apertures located in the
bottom of the centrifuge.
Inventors: |
Huffman; Eric C. (Santa Clara,
CA), Woodall; James F. (Mountain View, CA) |
Assignee: |
Beckman Instruments, Inc.
(Fullerton, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23062366 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/277,792 |
Filed: |
June 29, 1981 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
494/12; 248/680;
494/60; 68/3R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B04B
7/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B04B
7/00 (20060101); B04B 7/02 (20060101); B04B
007/02 (); B04B 015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;233/1A,1R,1C,1B,23A,27,23R,24,25,26 ;68/3R
;248/680,681,500,300 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jenkins; Robert W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Steinmeyer; R. J. Mehlhoff; F. L.
May; William H.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A centrifuge holder assembly comprising:
a centrifuge machine for operating a rotor and having a bottom
panel with at least two apertures;
a mounting plate;
means for securely fastening said plate to a horizontal surface on
which said centrifuge machine rests; and
means connected to said plate and projecting toward said centrifuge
machine for interfacing with said apertures, said interfacing means
designed in such a manner to engage and secure said centrifuge when
said centrifuge begins to move horizontally, said interfacing means
preventing any significant rotational movement of said
centrifuge.
2. A centrifuge holder assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said
interfacing means comprises:
a tab located on at least two ends of said plate and projecting
away from said surface for receipt in said apertures; and
means on said tabs for holding said centrifuge if said centrifuge
moves in a rotational manner on said surface.
3. A centrifuge holder assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said
holding means comprises a generally horizontal slot in one of said
tabs with an opening facing in one direction and a generally
horizontal slot in the other of said tabs with an opening facing in
a direction generally opposite to said one direction of said one
tab, said slots engaging said bottom panel when said rotational
movement occurs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to centrifuges and, more
specifically, is directed to a holder apparatus designed to prevent
any rotational movement of a centrifuge machine on the support
surface upon which it is rested.
Centrifuge machines are designed to operate centrifuge rotors at
high speeds in order to produce the necessary forces to accomplish
the separation of each of the fluid samples located within the
rotor. Since the speeds of the rotors are very high, much concern
exists with respect to ensuring that the rotor maintains its proper
position within the centrifuge machine. Otherwise, the interior of
the centrifuge machine may be damaged. In some instances the
balance loading in the rotor is inadvertently not achieved prior to
the operation of the centrifuge. An unbalanced load on the rotor
may cause possible disengagement of the rotor from the drive
spindle or actual breakage of the drive spindle in the centrifuge.
The result of such a circumstance would be damage not only to the
rotor and the fluid samples, but also to the interior of the
centrifuge machine in which the rotor is contained. The centrifuge
machine is designed in such a manner that a disengaged rotor is
contained safely within the centrifuge.
Some centrifuge machines are relatively small for use on a work
table. The weight of these machines is lighter than some of the
relatively large ultra-centrifuge machines that are designed for
positioning on a floor. In the event of an unbalanced rotor
condition in the centrifuge the rotor may become disengaged and
thrash around in the rotor chamber. The forces generated by the
loose rotor may cause the centrifuge machine to move around the
table. Such a condition is highly undesirable in that there is the
possibility of damage to other equipment on the table as well as
possible harm to operators who may be in the vicinity.
The amount of torque and motion caused by the rotor within the
rotor chamber when it thrashes around after breakage of its drive
spindle caused by rotor imbalance will result in a rotative motion
in the centrifuge machine itself. In the case of a table top type
of centrifuge machine which is small and relatively lightweight,
the centrifuge is not able to withstand the forces generated,
resulting in a reactive motion in the centrifuge itself.
Some solutions to this problem have been to physically bolt the
centrifuge machine to a fixed location on the table top. However,
this approach would require the undesirable need to remove the
bolts or other fastening means every time the centrifuge machine is
to be moved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a holder assembly which is
designed in such a manner that the centrifuge machine can be easily
moved in a vertical direction with respect to the support surface
upon which it rests while at the same time a rotational movement of
the centrifuge machine will be inhibited. The holder assembly
incorporates the use of a pair of vertically projecting tabs from a
mounting plate which is securely fastened to a support table. The
tabs are designed to be received within spaced slots in the bottom
of the centrifuge machine. Also in these projecting tabs of the
holder are horizontal slots with their open ends oriented
180.degree. with respect to each other.
If any rotational motion occurs in the centrifuge machine, the
slots within the tabs would hold on to the bottom panel of the
centrifuge machine. The holding assembly is designed in such a
manner that it allows the centrifuge to be lifted and easily moved
without the use of any tools. The holder assembly will interface
with the centrifuge in such a manner that it will not physically
contact the centrifuge during normal usage. The dampening function
of the centrifuge leg pads will not be impaired as would be the
case with respect to a holder that is affixed to the centrifuge and
bolted to the work table. The present holding assembly will only
contact the centrifuge when the centrifuge starts to move. Further,
the holder is designed to be not only functional in use, but also
efficient in its manufacture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table top centrifuge;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder device of the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the holder device of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is one end view of the holder of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is the other end view of the holder of the present
invention; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of the holder of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Attention is directed to FIG. 1 showing a table top centrifuge 10
having a rotor cabinet 12 with a removable lid 14. When the lid 14
is open, a rotor chamber, not shown, would be in view containing a
drive spindle on which the rotor is placed for centrifugation of
fluid samples. Located on a front panel 16 of the centrifuge are
control knobs 18 and 20 designed for the control and the operation
of the centrifuge. The centrifuge machine has a bottom panel 22
from which project four support legs 24. The legs 24 have pads 26
which are designed to provide secure frictional attachment between
the centrifuge 10 and the support surface on which it will
rest.
The table top centrifuge 10 is designed for operation to drive a
rotor at approximately 12,000 r.p.m.'s. As explained previously, if
a rotor is placed in the centrifuge in an unbalanced condition, it
could come off of or break its drive spindle and thrash around
within the rotor chamber of the centrifuge. This impact of the
rotor in the rotor chamber will cause motion in the centrifuge 10,
because its weight is not sufficient to restrain the forces being
generated by the rotor moving within the centrifuge. The result
would be the movement of the centrifuge 10 on the support
table.
Located in the bottom panel 22 of the centrifuge are apertures 28
and 30. These apertures are designed to receive the respective
projecting tabs 32 and 34 of a holding member 36 shown in FIG. 2.
The holder 36 has a mounting plate 38 with a plurality of apertures
40 designed to receive bolts or screws, not shown, for securing the
mounting plate 38 to a support table or surface. The tabs 32 and 34
project from the respective ends 42 and 44 of the mounting plate
38. As shown more clearly in FIG. 6, the respective tabs 32 and 34
project at an approximate 90.degree. angle from the mounting plate
38. As shown in FIG. 4, the tab 34 has a connecting slot 46 with an
open tapered end 48. Similarly, in FIG. 5 the tab 32 has a
connecting slot 50 which has an open tapered end 52. However, the
open end 48 of the slot 46 is facing in a direction 180.degree.
opposed to the direction of the opening 52 of slot 50 in the tab
32. Preferably, the mounting or holding bracket 36 is made of a
strong material, such as metal, which can withstand any movement
impacted on it by the centrifuge 10.
The use of the present invention is accomplished by locating a
particular area on a work table where the centrifuge machine is to
be used. At that location the mounting bracket 36 is secured to the
surface by the use of bolts or screws or any other type of
attachments, such as clamps or a strong adhesive. The centrifuge 10
is then lowered over the holding member 36 so that the interconnect
tabs 32 and 34 are received within the apertures 29 and 30 in the
bottom panel 22 of the centrifuge. It should be noted that the
length of the apertures 28 and 30 is such that it is larger than
the width of the projecting tabs 32 and 34 to permit ease in the
placement and removal of the centrifuge 10 on the holder 36.
If during operation of the centrifuge the rotor comes off the drive
spindle, the continued rotative motion of the rotor will impart a
similar rotative motion to the whole centrifuge. The motion of the
centrifuge will be in a rotational motion and will result in the
somewhat thin bottom panel 22 of the centrifuge being gripped
adjacent the apertures 28 and 30 by the slots 50 and 46 of the
projecting tabs 32 and 34. Consequently, movement of the centrifuge
machine 10 is restricted and will remain in a secure position on
the table until the rotor has come to rest within the centrifuge.
The slots 50 and 46 within the tabs 32 and 34 are oriented so that
they face in a direction opposite the rotational movement of the
rotor. Since the movement of the rotor will cause a similar
directional rotational movement in the centrifuge 10, the
centrifuge will be gripped by the slots 50 and 46 in the projecting
tabs 32 and 34.
Although a particular embodiment of the present invention is shown
and described above, it is envisioned that similar bracket
mechanisms of various designs could be utilized with slight
modification, but remain within the scope of the present invention
to accomplish the same end result of retaining the centrifuge in a
fixed position while at the same time permitting ease in the
positioning and removal of the centrifuge from the support
table.
* * * * *